Dinosaur that defended itself with spiny backbone found in Patagonia
Date created : 04/02/2019 - 21:32
A replica of the skull and neck of the "Bajadasaurus pronuspinax," a new species of sauropod discovered in Patagonia AFP
Buenos Aires (AFP)
A herbivorous dinosaur that fended off predators with a row of spines running along its back and lived 140 million years ago has been found in Argentine Patagonia.
The discovery of the new species of dicraeosauridae, christened Bajadasaurus pronuspinax, was revealed in scientific journal Nature.
A reproduction of its spiny neck was exhibited in the Cultural Science Center in Buenos Aires.
"We believe that the long and sharp spines -- very long and thin -- on the neck and back of Bajadasaurus and Amargasaurus cazaui (another dicraeosauridae) must have been to deter possible predators," said Pablo Gallina, an assistant researcher at the state council of scientific and technical investigations (CONICET) and Maimonides University.
"We think that had they been just bare bone structures or covered only by skin, they could have been easily broken or fractured with a blow or when being attacked by other animals," he added.
More:
https://www.france24.com/en/20190204-dinosaur-defended-itself-with-spiny-backbone-found-patagonia
Science:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/122862203